Juve brush aside Lazio as Allegri goes on the attack
By Brian Homewood
REUTERS - Serie A leaders Juventus brushed aside Lazio 2-0 on Sunday after coach Massimiliano Allegri threw caution to the wind in response to criticism following last weekend's reverse at Fiorentina.
Allegri, an often pragmatic coach, fielded an ultra-attacking line up and it quickly paid off as his side stunned sleepy Lazio with early goals from Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuain on the way to a 27th straight home league win.
"I don't spend much time on theories, I just put my ideas onto the pitch even if they are weird," Allegri told reporters.
"This is one of the solutions we came up with and the lads have given me a great response."
Juve have 48 points, four ahead of AS Roma, who have also played 20 games before hosting Cagliari later on Sunday.
Napoli have 44 after a 2-1 win at AC Milan on Saturday while Lazio are fourth, a further four points back after 21 matches.
Juve started with three forwards plus winger Juan Cuadrado and switched to a four-man defence as Allegri responded to criticism of a lacklustre display after a 2-1 loss in Florence.
Dybala broke the deadlock five minutes into the match when he met Mario Mandzukic's header at an awkward height and fired home a low volley from outside the area.
His fellow Argentine Higuain added the second when he caught two defenders napping and got in between them to turn home Juan Cuadrado's cross for his 14th league goal this season.
Higuain had another effort disallowed while defender Leonardo Bonucci turned the ball just wide from a cross by the Argentine after charging forward before halftime.
SUPER MARIO
Inter Milan notched their sixth successive league win after Joao Mario came off the bench to score the only goal of their game at Palermo, played in torrential rain.
Inter's Cristian Ansaldi and Palermo's Alessandro Gazzi were sent off in the last 10 minutes as some wild tackles flew on a the slippery surface.
Robin Quaison had the ball in the net for Palermo late on but his effort was disallowed because the referee had not authorised Alessandro Diamanti to take the free kick.
The win took Inter up to fifth on 39 points.
Bologna's Blerim Dzemaili scored twice in a 2-0 win over fading Torino, who were without suspended top scorer Andrea Belotti.
Alessandro Matri also scored twice as Sassuolo won 3-1 at bottom club Pescara, the second a volley from an impossible angle which appeared to be intended as a cross.
Genoa's Giovanni Simeone, son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego, scored but they were twice pegged back in a 2-2 draw with visiting Crotone.
Relegation already appears a foregone conclusion for Palermo and Crotone, with both sides 11 points adrift of the safety zone, and Pescara, who are a further point behind at the bottom.
(Writing by Brian Homewood in Berne; editing by Ken Ferris)